Greens hope weather will play ball for Highland visit
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Saturday turned out to be yet another let-down for the Greens as their scheduled first game of 2024 went by the board.
Prolonged heavy rain overnight on Thursday caused the postponement of their encounter with Ellon, the first of a planned series of rearranged home matches.
They are hoping the weather will play ball to allow Saturday's clash at Millbank in the North Conference of Caledonia Region League Division 1 versus Highland 2nd XV to take place.
Head coach Cameron Boyd said the Ellon game looked set to go ahead before the downpour on an already soft surface led to the decision being taken on Friday morning to call it off.
Boyd had no complaints after his side went down 45-20 a strong Highland Seconds under the lights at Canal Park on November 25.
The head coach said: "We're expecting another tough test as they are always a strong side.
"They were really good down there but we'll be looking to make the most of playing at home and we will have quite a few changes from the squad that played in Inverness."
Flanker Duncan Mackay has returned from holiday for the match, while winger Craig Chambers, back in Caithness after working away, could figure in the starting XV.
Brothers Scott and Douglas Webster and Charlie Quinn have recovered from bouts of seasonal flu, though Euan MacDonald remains sidelined by injury.
Boyd is keen to see the Greens' league campaign getting up and running again after being disappointed by their flat performance in the Boxing Day 31-5 defeat against the Exiles, when the Sinclair Cadzow Memorial Cup was at stake.
Training resumed this week at Halkirk indoor riding centre on Tuesday evening and the Wick all-weather pitch on Thursday evening.
Saturday's match kicks off at 2pm.
Elsewhere in the North Conference, Aberdeen Wanderers are away to Mackie, while Moray have a home match against Ellon.
After this weekend, the Greens' next fixture is at home to Moray on January 20. They will also be at home to Lossiemouth on February 3.
Moray lead the way in the North Conference with 51 points from 12 matches, one point ahead of Aberdeenshire who have played one game more.
Caithness are seventh in the eight-team division with 17 points from their opening nine fixtures.
Away from league action, the Greens have a second-round National Shield tie at home to Ellon on February 17.
